Smart bowl system

ABSTRACT

An animal feeder which generates sensorially perceivable indicia upon the coincidence an alteration in food or water conditions and the proximity of a person to the animal feeder.

This United States Patent Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/061,281, filed Feb. 18, 2005, now issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 7,159,539, hereby incorporated by reference herein.

I. BACKGROUND

The invention relates to an animal feeder which in response to thecoincidence of at least one altered feed condition of the feed containedby the animal feeder and the proximity of a person to the animal feedergenerates a sensorially perceivable indicia.

A numerous and wide variety of animal feeders have been developed whichin basic configurations simply retain animal food or water forconsumption by an animal. These basic configurations have been modifiedto further include water supply means and temperature control means tomaintain fresh water at a controlled temperature as disclosed forexample by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,980; 3,306,236; 2,612,138; 1,553,739;and 1,497,202. Other animal feeders provide a sensor which detects thatthe feeder requires filling to actuate a re-fill indicator, as disclosedfor example by U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,291. Certain animal feeders arefurther mechanized to automatically dispense measured amounts of foodand water at timed intervals as disclosed for example by U.S. Pat. Nos.5,735,231; 5,138,979; and 1,309,090. Interaction between the animal andthe animal feeder has been exploited in order to dispense animal food asdisclosed for example by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,053,124; 5,113,795; 4,799,455.For those animals that react poorly to being fed by a machine, certainanimal feeders further provide prerecorded audio or video presentationsto create a familiar atmosphere during feeding as disclosed for exampleby U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,529.

Even though there is a large commercial market for animal feeders and anumerous and wide variety of animal feeders are available for thatcommercial market, there remains a significant unresolved problem inthat animal feeders may not sense the coincidence of an altered foodcondition or characteristic and the proximity of a person to the animalfeeder as a trigger for the generation of a sensorially perceivableindicia to attract the person to the animal feeder. As can be understoodfrom the discussion above, a great majority of animal feeders have nomanner of sensing food characteristics, such as the amount of food orwater in the animal feeder, the level of the food or water in the animalfeeder, or the duration of time which has elapsed since the food wasplaced in animal feeder. Automating dispensation of food and water asdescribed by the various references disclosed has not focused uponinvolving a person in the animal feeding process, but rather teachesaway from involving a person by reducing or completely alleviating therecurring task of feeding and watering of animals by a person. In thefew instances, where the animal feeder does afford an indicia of theamount of food or water in the animal feeder the indicia means remainsresponsive to the condition of the feeder or the contents of the feeder,but not the environment, animals, or persons proximate to the animalfeeder.

By contrast the instant animal feeder invention, affords sensoriallyperceivable indicia to a person which are coincidence with alternationof the food or water conditions and the proximity of the person to theanimal feeder.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a broad object of the invention can be to provide an animalfeeder which generates at least one sensorially perceivable indicia uponthe coincidence of alteration of at least one feed characteristic orcondition and the proximity of a person to the animal feeder.

Another, broad object of the invention can be to provide an animalfeeder which generates at least one sensorially perceivable indicia uponthe coincidence of alteration of at least one feed characteristic orcondition and the proximity of an animal to the animal feeder.

Another, broad object of the invention can be to provide an animalfeeder which generates at least one sensorially perceivable indicia uponthe coincidence of alteration of at least one feed characteristic orcondition and the proximity of an animal and a person to the animalfeeder.

Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughoutother areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.

III. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a block diagram of a generic embodiment of the animalfeeder invention.

FIG. 2 provides a first illustrative schematic diagram of a logiccircuit that can be used with a particular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 provides a second illustrative schematic diagram of a logiccircuit that can be used with a particular embodiment of the invention.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An animal feeder which provides sensorially perceivable indicia to aperson upon the coincidence of an altered feed condition and theproximity of a person to the animal feeder.

Now referring primarily to FIG. 1, an animal feeder invention which caninclude a feeder (1) in which an amount of feed (2) can be established.The term “feeder” in accordance with the invention refers to anyreceptacle in which “feed” as described below can be established to feedan animal. The term “feeder” is not intended to be limited to anyparticular physical configuration and without limitation includes thenumerous and wide variety of dishes, platters, plates, bowls,dispensers, crocks, bottles, fountains, dispensers, or the like whetheror not partially or entirely automated to dispense food or waterregardless of the manner of or material of construction.

The term “feed” in accordance with the invention means any manner ofmaterial which can be established in the “feeder” for consumption by ananimal, including without limitation dry animal food, biscuits, cannedanimal food, prescription animal diets, diets containing medicaments,medicaments, seeds, meals, pellets, flakes, frozen food, water, or thelike. The term is not intended to be limited to any particular type orkind of animal feed and the term is intended to generically includeindividually or in various combinations solid or liquid materials whichcan be feed with a feeder to any of numerous species or breeds ofanimals including without limitation dogs, cats, fish, birds, poultry,horses, cows, sheep, goats, hawks, pigs, quail, zoo animals, farmanimals, rabbits, hamsters, mice, ferrets, reptiles, or the like.

A first sensor (3) can be made responsive to at least one altered feedcondition or altered feed characteristic of the feed (2) in the feeder(1) or to which the first sensor (3) is responsive. The term “alteredfeed condition” in accordance with the invention means any alteration ofa feed characteristic or alteration of a feed condition which can besensed by the first sensor (3) and without limitation includes an elapseof a duration of time that the feed (2) has resided in the feeder; thealteration of the amount of feed (2) contained in the feeder (1); analteration in the level of feed (2) in the feeder (1); an alteration ofthe amount of weight of an amount of feed (2) contained by the feeder(1); an alteration of an amount of force generated by all or a portionof the amount of feed (2) contained by the feeder, an alteration in thereflectivity (whether to light, sound, radiation, or otherwise) at alocation within the feeder (1) due to an alteration in the condition ofthe feed (2); an alteration in temperature of the feed (2) establishedin the feeder (1), or the like. The term “altered feed condition” canfurther include any condition which affects the feeder (1) independentof the feed (2) or to act upon the feed (1) established within thefeeder including without limitation alteration in position of the feeder(1), inclination of the feeder (1), angle of the feeder (1), location ofthe feeder (1), the amount of light incident upon the feeder (1), theamount of sound incident upon the feeder (1), or the like.

The first sensor (3) can comprise any manner of sensor which can sensean altered feed condition. As to certain embodiments of the inventionthe first sensor (3) can for example comprise a fluid level sensoroperable in response to the level of a liquid in the feeder (1). Anumerous and wide variety of fluid level sensors can be made responsiveto the level of liquid in the feeder (1) and are encompassed by theinvention, including without limitation, a float level switch such asdisclosed by Crydom Magnetics Ltd, RSF14; a differential pressuresensor; magnetic float sensor; or the like, which operate to deactuateor actuate an electromechanical switch such as a reed switch, relay,solid state switch, or the like. Alternately, the invention furtherencompasses fluid level sensors which utilize an electrical conductivityor resistivity liquid level switch using a low voltage power sourceapplied across separate electrodes. Contacting both electrodes with theliquid in the feeder completes a conductive circuit. The fluid levelsensors can also comprise an air bubbler liquid level switch which usesa constant volumetric rate of gas flow through a tube submerged in theliquid. The amount of pressure required to force the bubbles through thetube can be measured to ascertain liquid level or in certainapplications the type of liquid in the feeder. Optical fluid sensorswhich utilize an infrared emitter and optical receiver such as providedby Gentech International, OS Series can also be utilized as the firstsensor (3) in certain embodiments of the invention.

These examples of liquid level sensors encompassed by variousembodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative and notlimiting with regard to the numerous and wide variety of liquid levelsensors that can be utilized in accordance with the invention as thefirst sensor (3) and the examples are intended not to exclude othertypes of liquid level sensors which may emit radio waves, ultrasonicwaves, radar waves, and measure the amount or frequency of the reflectedwavelengths from the amount of feed (2).

As to other embodiments of the invention, the first sensor (3) cancomprise a solids level switch operable in response to the level of feed(2) in the feeder (1). A wide variety of solids level switches can bemade responsive to the level of the feed (2) in the feeder (1) includingwithout limitation a solids level switch such as the K-TEK, SF 50vibrating fork level switch.

Certain embodiments of the invention can include a first sensor (3)which measures the pressure of the feed (2) in the feeder (1). Forexample, a membrane switch having a static layer which does not flex anda flexible membrane layer which flexes in response to an amount of feed(2). The static layer carries one pole, both poles, or can be used toshort both poles of a switch together. The membrane switch can includefurther layers such as graphic layers, tactile layers and rigid layers.Alternately, a thin-film pressure sensor can be applied to a surface ofthe feeder (1) to sense the amount of feed (2) in the feeder (1), forexample as disclosed by Hobby Engineering, item number 30056.

Yet other embodiments of the invention can include various types ofinfrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, radiofrequency sensors which cangenerate a signal indicating whether or not a certain level of feed (2)or amount of feed (2) is contained by the feeder (1). Non-limitingexamples encompassed by the invention, include infrared sensors whichutilize an infrared emitting diode and an NPN silicon phototransistormounted on the feeder (1). The phototransistor can respond to radiationemitted from the light emitting diode reflected back from the feed (2)in the animal feeder (1).

The first sensor (3) can be a timer which measures an amount of time thefeed (2) has resided in the feeder (3), or in conjunction with any ofthe above-described sensors, or other sensors such as tilt sensors,temperature sensors, whisker sensors, or the like, utilized to sensealteration of a condition of the feed (2) or the feeder (1) which actsupon the feed.

As can be understood from the forgoing description, a numerous and widevariety of sensors can be used in accordance with the invention as afirst sensor (3) to sense an altered feed condition or altered feedcharacteristic whether the alteration or condition of the feed (2) isinherent to the feed (2) itself or due to action upon the feed (2) bythe alteration or condition of the feeder (1). The instant descriptionof a first sensor (3) is intended to broadly encompasses all manner andvariety of sensors capable of sensing an altered feed condition oraltered feed characteristic whether utilized independently or incombination to sense or detect a single or a plurality of altered feedcondition(s) at a point in time or over a duration in time.

Again referring primarily to FIG. 1, the second sensor (4) can compriseany manner of sensor which can sense the proximity of a person (5) tothe feeder (1). As to certain embodiments of the invention, for example,the second sensor (4) can comprise an infrared or passive infraredsensor. A passive infrared sensor can be tuned to detect infraredradiation emitted from the person (5). Typically, a lens within theinfrared sensor divides its coverage area into pie-shaped segments andpositive detection of the person (5) occurs when the infrared sensor“sees” the motion of infrared radiation from a first pie-shaped segmentto the next. A variety of suitable infrared sensors are available, andwithout limitation to the forgoing generic description of the secondsensor (4), include for example the Sharp GP1U58X a 40 kHz modulatedinfrared light detector, the LiteOn LTM 97 AS-40 and the LiteOn LTM97DS-40.

As to other embodiments of the invention the second sensor (4) cancomprise an ultrasonic motion sensor. Ultrasonic transducers oftenutilize piezoelectric crystals which resonate to a desired frequency andconvert electric energy into acoustic energy and vice versa. The soundwaves are typically transmitted in the shape of a cone from the motiionsensor and are reflected from the person (5) back to a transducer. Avariety of suitable ultrasonic motions sensors are available, andwithout limitation to the generic description of the second sensor (4),include for example the Migratron RPS-409A-IS and the PASCO, PASPORTMotion Sensor PS-2103.

Another non-limiting example of the second sensor (4) encompassed by theinvention, includes infrared sensors which can utilize an infraredemitting diode and an NPN silicon phototransistor mounted on the feeder(1). The phototransistor can respond to radiation emitted from the lightemitting diode reflected back from the person proximate to the feeder.Alternately, an integrated sensor with infrared emitter, detector,optics, and timing logic can be used which produces an analog voltageproportional to the distance to the nearest object found in its field ofview. As an example a Sharp GP2Y0A02YK infrared sensor can detectobjects within a range of about eight inches to about sixty inches.

As to other embodiments of the invention the second sensor (2) cancomprise a load sensor responsive to all or a portion of the weight ofthe person (5) proximate to the animal feeder (1). A wide variety ofload sensors are suitable for use with the invention including withoutlimitation pressure switches which respond to part or all of the weightof the person (5). For example, a pressure sensor can be positionedbetween two mated surfaces or in a floor mat having a location in whichthe person (5) is to be detected. When the person travels over themating surfaces the increase in pressure or load can be sensed. Withoutlimitation to the generic description of pressure sensor above, as anexample, various pressure mats suitable for use with the invention aremanufactured by Arun Electronics Ltd, United Kingdom.

It is not intended, however, that the invention be limited toembodiments in which the second sensor (4) is responsive only to aperson (5) proximate to the feeder (1) and as to certain embodiments ofthe invention the second sensor (4) can be responsive to a person (5)locatable a distance from the feeder (1). As to these embodiments of theinvention the second sensor (4) can be responsive to a person (5)locatable by tracking a mobile or cellular telephone, a blackberry, orsimilar wireless device (collectively referred hereafter as “cellulartelephones”) by including directly or utilizing indirectly a cellulartelephone tracking hardware, software or service, such as the softwareand service available from AccuTracking, Inc. Similarly, the secondsensor (4) can be responsive to a person (5) locatable by a discoverablemodem capable cellular telephone which can be pinged via bluetooth orthe like. Again, the second sensor (4) can be responsive to a humanlocatable by a global position system tracking device or by or at anInternet or broadband domain address, or the like. As can be understoodfrom the forgoing description, a numerous and wide variety of sensorscan be used in accordance with the invention as a second sensor (4) tosense a person (5) proximate to the feeder (1) or locatable a distancefrom the feeder (1). The instant description of a second sensor (4) isintended to broadly encompasses all manner and variety of sensorscapable of sensing a person (5) proximate to or locatable a distancefrom the feeder.

Now referring primarily to FIG. 1, the animal feeder can further includean indicia generator (6) which generates sensorially perceivable indicia(7) to the person proximate to the feeder (1). The term “sensoriallyperceivable indicia” is intended to include any manner of indicationperceivable by the person (5) and the term “indicia generator” (6) canwithout limitation include any type or kind of emitter of light, sound,smell, or which provides tactile indicia, such as: light emittingdiodes, incandescent lights, light emitting diodes or incandescentlights which flash or change color, piezoelectric sound generators,mechanical buzzers, magnetic buzzers, piezoelectric sirens,piezoelectric indicators, tone generators, speakers, digital messages,vibrotactile bars, pulsating transducers, actuatable aerosol dispensers,or a transmission such as telephone, facsimile, e-mail, wirelesstransmission, broadband, or the like.

The animal feeder invention further includes, a signal generator (8)responsive to the first sensor (3) and the second sensor (4) whichgenerates a signal (9) in response to the coincidence of the firstsensor (3) detecting or sensing an altered feed condition and the secondsensor (4) detecting or sensing the person (5) proximate to the feeder(1). The signal generator (8) can, without limitation, be the coincidentclosure of poles of switches correspondingly responsive to the firstsensor (3) and the second sensor (4) to close a circuit which providespower to the perceivable indicia generator (6). Alternately, the signalgenerator (8) can generate ultrasonic waves, infrared waves, or the liketo a receiver (10) which triggers the perceivable indicia generator.Yet, as to other embodiments of the invention the signal generator (8)can be an analog or digital signal generator which transmits a signal(9) to trigger the perceivable indicia generator (6).

The animal feeder invention can further include a third sensor (13)which detects or senses an animal (14) in proximity to the feeder. Thethird sensor (14) can act independent of or in combination with thesecond sensor (4) to trigger the indicia generator (6). In the firstinstance, sensorially perceivable indicia (7) to the animal can providean indication that the condition of the feed (2) in the feeder (1) hasbeen altered which in certain embodiments of the invention can includethe addition of feed (2) to the feeder (1). In other embodiments of theinvention, the sensorially perceivable indicia (7) to the person (5) canindicate that the animal (14) is in proximity to the feeder (1) andthere is an altered feed condition. Again, a wide variety of proximitysensors, as described above, can be used to detect or sense theproximity of the animal (14) to the feeder (1). A particular embodimentof the animal feeder invention includes a transmitter or transponder(15) coupled to the animal (14) (typically on the animal's collar) (seefor example, Radio Systems Corporation, Knoxville, Tenn.), or an objectcarried or manipulated by the animal, or implanted in the animal, whichtransmits a signal to a signal receiver (16) (which can in someembodiments be coded to the particular animal by frequency or bygeo-position location coordinate), which in accordance with the logiccircuit established between the first sensor (3), the second sensor (4),and the third sensor (13) can trigger the indicia generator (6) togenerate sensorially perceivable indicia (7).

Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a wide variety of circuit means (11)including a power source (12) which generates a current whetheralternating current, transformed alternating current, direct currentproduced with a battery or alternating current transformed to directcurrent, conductors, switches, or the like, can coordinate the firstsensor reports relating to at least one feed condition or characteristicof the feed (2) with the second sensor reports relating to the proximityof the person (5) to the feeder (1) with the actuation of theperceivable indicia generator (6) to produce sensorially perceivableindicia (7) to notify the person (5) that the feeder (1) requires someaction on the part of the person relative to at least one feedcondition. FIG. 3 provides an illustrative logic circuit that can beused to coordinate the report from the third sensor (13) of an animal(14) in proximity to the feeder (1) to actuate perceivable indiciagenerator (6) to produce the sensorially perceivable indicia (7) tonotify the person (5) that the feeder (1) requires some action on thepart of the person relative to at least one feed condition.

The invention can as to certain embodiments of the invention include aprogrammable memory (17) coupled to said circuit means to provideprogrammable logic for operation of the first sensor(s)(3), the secondsensor (4), and the third sensor (13) as well as generate a signal tothe indicia generator (6). As to some embodiments of the invention theprogrammable memory (17) can further provide a digital message, aconnection to broadband transmission or telephone transmission, ortransmit information pertaining to an animal (14) having proximity tothe feeder (1), including the transmission of images of the animal (14),as to those embodiments of the invention which further include imagetransmission means such as a digital camera or cell telephone with imageacquisition means and image transmission means.

A to certain embodiments of the invention the feeder along with thefirst sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor (when included in theembodiment of the invention) can be configured as single integratedpiece. The term single integrated piece means any embodiment of thefeeder invention in which the component parts are directly connected toeach other such that all the component parts move as a single construct.

As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts ofthe present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. Theinvention involves numerous and varied embodiments of a pet feedingdevice and methods of use thereof.

As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the inventiondisclosed by the description or shown in the figures accompanying thisapplication are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of thenumerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the inventionor equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular elementthereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment orelement of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments orelements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by thedescription and figures.

It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each stepof a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Suchterms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitlybroad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example,it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed asan action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causesthat action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed asthe physical element or the action which that physical elementfacilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “feed” should beunderstood to encompass disclosure of the act of “feeding”—whetherexplicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there the disclosureof the act of “feeding”, such a disclosure should be understood toencompass disclosure of a “feed” and even a “means for feeding”. Suchalternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to beexplicitly included in the description.

In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unlessits utilization in this application is inconsistent with suchinterpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood toincluded in the description for each term as contained in the RandomHouse Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definitionhereby incorporated by reference.

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) eachof pet feeding devices herein disclosed and described, ii) the relatedmethods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and evenimplicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) thosealternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown,disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods whichaccomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplishthat which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, andstep shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applicationsenhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) theresulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methodsand apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and withreference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the variouscombinations and permutations of each of the previous elementsdisclosed.

The claims set forth in this specification are hereby incorporated byreference as part of this description of the invention, and theapplicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion ofsuch incorporated content of such claims as additional description tosupport any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof,and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move anyportion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or anyelement or component thereof from the description into the claims orvice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection issought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division,or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefitof, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws,rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such contentincorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency ofthis application including any subsequent continuation, division, orcontinuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extensionthereon.

The claims set forth below are intended to describe the metes and boundsof a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention andare not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or acomplete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed.The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims basedupon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation,division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.

1. An animal feeder, comprising: a. a feeder containing an amount offeed; b. a first sensor responsive to at least one altered feedcharacteristic of said amount of feed in said feeder; c. a second sensorresponsive to a human locatable a distance from said feeder; d. a signalgenerator responsive to said first sensor and to said second sensorwhich generates a signal in response to the coincidence of said at leastone altered feed characteristic and said human locatable a distance fromsaid feeder; and e. an indicia generator which emits a sensoriallyperceivable indicia in response to said signal from said signalgenerator.
 2. An animal feeder as described in claim 1, wherein saidfirst sensor responsive to said at least one altered feed characteristicis selected from the group consisting of a fluid level sensor, a floatlevel switch, a differential pressure switch, a magnetic float sensor, amembrane switch, a solids level switch, a conductivity liquid levelswitch, a resistivity liquid level switch, an air bubbler liquid levelswitch, optical fluid sensor, radiofrequency detector, utrasonicdetector, radar detector, thin film pressure sensor, an infraredemitting diode with NPN silicon phototransistor, a timing circuit, and atimer.
 3. An animal feeder as described in claim 2, wherein said feed isselected from the group consisting of: a material consumable by ananimal, a solid consumable by an animal, a liquid consumable by ananimal, dry animal food, canned animal food, prescription animal diets,diets containing medicaments, medicaments, seeds, meals, pellets,flakes, frozen food, and water.
 4. An animal feeder as described inclaim 3, wherein said altered feed characteristic is selected from thegroup consisting of an elapse of a duration of time said feed has beencontained in said feeder, an alternation in said amount of feedcontained in said feeder, an alternation in a level of said amount offeed contained in said feeder, and an alteration of an amount of weightof said amount of feed contained in said feeder.
 5. An animal feeder asdescribed in claim 4, wherein said second sensor responsive to a humanlocatable a distance from said feeder is selected from the groupconsisting of an infrared motion sensor, modulated infrared lightdetector, an ultrasonic motion sensor, an infrared emitting diode withan NPN silicon phototransistor, a load sensor, a pressure switch, radardetector, and a thin film pressure sensor, a global positioning locatorelement, an Internet domain address locator element, an e-mail addresslocator element, a wireless transmitter locator element, and a broadbandtransmission address locator element.
 6. An animal feeder as describedin claim 5, wherein said indicia generator is selected from the groupconsisting of an emitter of light, an emitter of sound, an emitter ofscent, a light emitting diode, an incandescent light, a light emittingdiode which flashes, an incandescent lights which flashes, apiezoelectric sound generator, a mechanical buzzer, a magnetic buzzer, apiezoelectric siren, a piezoelectric indicator, a tone generator, aspeaker, a digital message player, a vibrotactile bar, a pulsatingtransducer, an actuatable aerosol dispensers, a telephone, a facsimile,an e-mail, a wireless transmission, a broadband transmission.
 7. Ananimal feeder as described in claim 6, further comprising a third sensorresponsive to an animal proximate to said feeder.
 8. An animal feeder asdescribed in claim 7, wherein said third sensor responsive to saidanimal proximate to said feeder is selected from the group consistingof: an infrared motion sensor, modulated infrared light detector, anultrasonic motion sensor, an infrared emitting diode with an NPN siliconphototransistor, a load sensor, a pressure switch, radar detector, athin film pressure sensor, and a transmitter-receiver attached to saidanimal.
 9. A method of feeding an animal, comprising the steps of: a.containing an amount of feed in a feeder; b. sensing an alteration in afeed characteristic of said amount of feed contained in said feeder; c.sensing a human locatable a distance from said feeder; d. generating asignal in response to said alteration of said feed characteristic ofsaid amount of feed contained in said feeder coincident with said humanlocatable a distance from said feeder; and e. emitting a sensoriallyperceivable indicia in response to said signal generated.
 10. A methodof feeding an animal as described in claim 9, wherein said step ofcontaining an amount of feed in a feeder comprises the step ofcontaining an amount of feed in said feeder selected from the groupconsisting of a material consumable by an animal, a solid consumable byan animal, a liquid consumable by an animal, dry animal food, cannedanimal food, prescription animal diets, diets containing medicaments,medicaments, seeds, meals, pellets, flakes, frozen food, and water. 11.A method of feeding an animal as described in claim 10, wherein saidstep of sensing an alteration in feed characteristics of said amount offeed contained in said feeder comprises the step of sensing alterationin feed characteristics selected from the group consisting of an elapseof a duration of time said feed has been contained in said feeder, analternation in said amount of feed contained in said feeder, analternation in a level of said amount of feed contained in said feeder,and an alteration of an amount of weight of said amount of feedcontained in said feeder.
 12. A method of feeding an animal as describedin claim 11, wherein said step of sensing a human locatable a distancefrom said feeder comprises the step of sensing said human located withina range of distance of said feeder selected from the group consistingof: between about zero feet and about ten feet, between about 1 foot andabout two feet, between about two feet and about three feet, betweenabout three feet and about four feet, between about four feet and aboutfive feet, between about five feet and about six feet, between about sixfeet and seven feet, between about seven feet and eight feet, betweenabout eight feet and about nine feet, between about nine feet and aboutten feet, and between about zero feet and about twenty feet, locatableby global position system tracking, locatable as an Internet domainaddress, locatable as an e-mail address, locatable as a wirelesstransmitter address, locatable as a broadband transmission address. 13.A method of feeding an animal as described in claim 12, wherein saidstep of generating a signal in response to said alteration of said feedcharacteristic of said amount of feed contained in said feedercoincident with said human locatable a distance from said feedercomprises a signal selected from the group consisting of generating anamount of current in a circuit, an analog signal, and a digital signal.14. A method of feeding an animal as described in claim 13, wherein saidstep of emitting a sensorially perceivable indicia in response to saidsignal generated comprises the step of emitting a sensoriallyperceivable indicia selected from the group consisting of a lightemission, a sound emission, a scent emission, an emission from a lightemitting diode, an emission from an incandescent light, a flashing lightemission, a flashing incandescent light emission, a sound emission froma piezoelectric sound generator, a sound emission from a mechanicalbuzzer, a sound emission from a magnetic buzzer, a sound emission from apiezoelectric siren, a sound emission from a piezoelectric indicator, anemission from a tone generator, a sound emission from a speaker, adigital message, a vibration, a pulsation from a transducer, an aerosolspray, a telephone transmission, a facsimile transmission, an e-mailtransmission, a wireless transmission, a broadband transmission.
 15. Amethod of feeding an animal as described in claim 14, further comprisingthe step of step of sensing an animal proximate to said feeder andwherein said step of generating a signal in response to said alterationof said feed characteristic of said amount of feed contained in saidfeeder coincident with said human locatable a distance from said feedercomprises the step of generating a signal in response to said alterationof said feed characteristic of said amount of feed contained in saidfeeder coincident with said human locatable a distance from said feederand said animal proximate to said feeder.
 16. A method of producing ananimal feeder, comprising the steps of: a. providing an animal feeder;b. locating a first sensor to respond to alteration of at least one feedcharacteristic of an amount of feed contained by said feeder; c.locating a second sensor to respond to a human locatable a distance fromsaid feeder; d. coupling a signal generator to said first sensor andsaid second sensor, wherein said signal generator generates a signal inresponse to alteration of said at least one feed characteristiccoincident with said human locatable a distance from said feeder; and e.coupling an indicia generator to said signal generator.
 17. A method ofproducing an animal feeder as described in claim 16, wherein said stepof locating a first sensor to respond to alteration of at least one feedcharacteristic of an amount of feed contained by said feeder comprisesconfiguring said first sensor and said feeder as a single integratedpiece.
 18. A method of producing an animal feeder as described in claim17, wherein said step of locating a second sensor to respond to a humanlocatable a distance from said feeder comprises configuring said secondsensor and said feeder as a single integrated piece.
 19. A method ofproducing an animal feeder as described in claim 18, further comprisingthe step of locating third sensor to respond to an animal proximate tosaid feeder.
 20. A method of producing an animal feeder as described inclaim 19, wherein said step of locating third sensor to respond to ananimal proximate to said feeder comprises the step of configuring saidthird sensor and said feeder as a single integrated piece.
 21. A methodof producing an animal feeder as described in claim 20, where said stepof coupling an indicia generator to said signal generator comprises thestep of configuring said indicia generator and said feeder as a singleintegrated piece.